The Resistant Queen, page 7
When she arrived, the grounds were barren except for one witch tending to some repairs on one of the changing stalls. Maggie spun around, searching for anyone else.
“Belle?” she called, her voice echoing off the wooden walls of the city.
Her question went unanswered so she moved over to a small, smoking fire pit. The embers still smoldered and with a passing breeze, bright red coals revealed themselves. Maggie tossed a small handful of twigs and leaves on top. She was not cold beneath her layers but starting the fire gave her something to do. She bent down to blow on the coals when Loravain’s voice rang out across the city center.
“Do you want some help with that?” the fire mage asked as he strode closer. “Fire is kind of my thing.”
His long, black coat hung to his calves and his thick hide gloves shielded his hands from the cold, not that it would have bothered him anyway. The beginnings of a beard clung to his face.
“No,” she said. “I was just bored. I’m not even cold. These Priaman clothes are great.”
“Good,” Loravain said, patting her on the shoulder. “Warmth will make this easier.”
“Make what easier?”
“Your training,” Loravain said as he pulled off one of his gloves. As soon as his skin touched the hot embers, flames spread around his fingers, quickly igniting the kindling Maggie had added to the pit. “Now that you are queen, both Belle and I believe that you need to know how to use all your powers. She has asked that I work with you on that.”
“Why you?” Maggie asked, then blushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to sound like that. I mean, it’s just that she doesn’t trust you.”
“No, she does not. I was shocked when she approached me about it. I would not be surprised if this training session is being watched. But no matter, I truly have your best interests in mind, regardless of what these witches may think. However, Belle felt that this was important enough that it be done properly and she knows how much you trust me.”
“Will Belle be joining us?” Maggie asked.
“I am sure she will at some point, but don’t get your hopes up that it will be soon. She told me that she will be busy handling everything else around Priama while you are still learning how to fill your mother’s shoes.”
Maggie stepped closer to the growing fire. “What are we going to do today?”
“ I wanted to start with ice magic as that is your primary attack, or offensive magic. You will have to be able to protect yourself.”
“And you are going to teach me how to use ice magic?” Maggie asked with a smirk.
Loravain returned the grin and shook his head. “Of course not. What would I know about ice magic? No, Belle has found a teacher for you.”
“Really?” Maggie asked. The prospect of learning how to use her magic excited her.
“And don’t worry. I’ll be right here the whole time.”
“Why would I worry?”
“Just in case something happens that you can’t handle.”
Maggie nodded. “Who is my teacher?”
At her question, a short, plump witch stepped into view out from behind one of the changing stalls. Long, gray hair hung to her waist and a tight cap sat snuggly on top of her head, covering her ears. Like Maggie, she was dressed for the cold. Loravain, on the other hand, was steaming.
When the old witch got closer, she dropped to one knee. “My queen. It is a great honor to teach you what I know of ice magic.”
“And I am honored to learn from you,” Maggie said, a bright smile on her face. “What is your name?”
“Astrid.”
“It is nice to meet you, Astrid.” Maggi took Astrid’s hand and helped her to her feet while Loravain continued to stoke the fire. “How would you like to start?”
“First, I would like to know more about your relationship with the magic inside you. If what the mage tells me is true, you already have some skill.”
Loravain glanced over when he was mentioned. He nodded at Maggie, urging her to be honest with the old witch.
“I don’t really know how to explain what I can do. I know that there is a pocket of ice magic that lives behind my heart. When I call out to it, it does what I need it to.”
The knowing look on Astrid’s face said that she understood Maggie all too well. “Yes, it is a comforting feeling, is it not? What else?”
“When I call to it, I can feel it flow through my veins. Sometimes, when I’m in danger, it comes out on its own. Other than that, I haven’t tried to use it much. It kind of scares me.”
Astrid walked around her, examining and inspecting her body. She gripped her arms, felt her thighs, then pushed her to check her balance. “What is there to be afraid of?” she asked as she worked. “Your magic is part of you just like your eyes or your fingers. It is silly to be afraid of part of your own body.”
“Magic wasn’t accepted where I grew up. They feared witches and everything associated with them. I hid my magic for most of my life.”
Astrid threw her arms around Maggie and squeezed. “Oh, my child, that is unfortunate. No witch should ever have to hide who she is. That will no longer be a problem. Here, in Priama, you will be able to grow as you should have. Now, call out to your ice and focus it in the palm of your hand.”
Maggie stepped back and held her hand out in front of her. She focused on the lines running across her palm and felt a coldness radiating from her chest that traveled through her arm but it stalled just short of reaching its goal. Maggie shivered despite the warmth provided by her clothes. Closing her eyes, she pushed harder, failing yet again.
“It doesn’t work.”
“Your magic does not yet sense a purpose. You asked it to travel to your hand but nothing else. Without further instructions, it will begin to recede.”
Astrid took Maggie’s hand in hers and balled it into a fist. “Imagine your hand as a solid ball of ice. When you have the picture formed in your mind, draw on your power again and try to mimic the image you are holding.”
The retreating ice wavered as Maggie thought. It wanted to return to her center but sensed Maggie’s new desire. Reversing its course, it slowly moved back to her hand and nipped at her fingers. Blue lines of ice began to show beneath her skin like frozen veins. Pushing the thought, Maggie willed the ice out of her body but it felt stuck. Again, she urged it on, but it hesitated below her skin. When nothing happened, Maggie let the desire drift away, sending her magic back to its hiding spot.
“What happened?” Astrid asked.
“I don’t know. I couldn’t convince it to come out.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“Because I’m not good at this,” Maggie said.
Astrid laughed. “My dear, magic is never easy in the beginning. Were you able to walk the day you were born? No, you had to wait until you were strong enough to learn balance. As a newborn, we must struggle with what is holding us back until we learn to take those first, wobbly steps. Then, only when we are ready, we run.”
“Was it hard for you in the beginning?” Maggie asked.
“I had an older sister growing up. She was always my superior in magic. She made it look so easy. I failed time and time again as a young one but such is life. You will fail with magic, as a witch, as a woman, and as a queen. It is the way of things. Now, let us continue and try again.”
With more determination, Maggie called to the power residing in her. It needed more coaxing to reply this time, as if afraid it would be tricked, but soon traveled back to her hand. It did not stop short but filled her fingers, sending shivers racing back up her arm and down her spine. Maggie found that it was easier to persuade her magic to obey her will while still inside her body. Convincing it to leave was more difficult.
Maggie concentrated harder, cringing until her skin turned blue and a cold mist dripped from her fingertips. It slowly swirled out of sight as it mingled with the freshly fallen snow. Though try as she might, the ice magic refused to take the shape it was supposed to. When Maggie gave up a second time, Astrid gave her a sharp glare.
“Why did you stop?” she chided.
“Nothing happened. My magic doesn’t want to obey me.”
“Who is in control?” Astrid asked. “You or your magic?”
“You can do this, Maggie,” Loravain said, still standing next to the fire. “Remember, you have done this before.”
“When?”
“The blacksmith’s lock.”
Maggie’s eyes widened with realization. She had done this before. “So why can’t I do it now?”
“Fear and doubt,” Astrid said. “Self-doubt is the quickest way for your magic to fail. You must be confident in your abilities. Think back to what happened with the lock. If you can remember what you were feeling then, it will help purge your heart of the doubt it feels now.”
Maggie closed her eyes and traveled back in time. It had happened less than two months ago, though it felt like she had lived a whole lifetime since then. As the clouds in her mind parted, familiar emotions began to tug at her. Anger and jealousy were the strongest. It used to make her sick to her stomach to see Jacob embrace Katie, but now all it did was leave a bad taste in the back of her throat. That taste turned to bile when Maggie imagined them kissing. Her heart twisted in her chest as she realized her feelings for the blacksmith had not completely abated.
The thought of the happy couple faded from view as Maggie mentally moved towards the alley next to the forge. The light filtering through her eyelids darkened as the memory took shape. Soft moonlight illuminated the dark path as Maggie moved through it. When she was deposited back into the open, she expected to see Loravain and Sarah standing by the locked door, but they were not there. It was Katie. Her perfect red hair hung in a tight braid over her shoulder. Her fancy green dress that matched her stunning eyes danced playfully in the breeze, exposing her white calves.
“What are you doing here?” Maggie asked, her heartbeat increasing rapidly.
“Isn’t that obvious?” Katie replied.
The cold spot behind Maggie’s heart pulsed, sending spikes of power rushing through her body.
“No, it is not obvious. You’re not supposed to be here.” Maggie balled her fists and took a step back.
“That’s it, my girl.” A voice floated around her but it was not Katie.
“You need to leave,” Maggie demanded, coldness washing over her.
“Make me,” Katie said, closing the distance between them in two steps.
Taking a calming breath, Maggie steeled her nerves and stood taller, meeting Katie’s height. “I will if I have to.”
At her words, Katie dissolved into the scenery as the training grounds came back into view. Glancing down, Maggie was surprised to see her fists completely encased in blue ice.
Astrid beamed at her. “Now you need to learn to do that at will instead of while searching for the needed memories.”
Over the course of the next few hours, Maggie pressed herself even harder as she befriended the icy power inside her. After each attempt, it became easier to coerce the ice to do her bidding, but the exercises exhausted her. When she could encase her hands without too much trouble, Astrid gave her a new task.
“Good, good,” the old witch said with pride. “Now try to give it shape."
“What do you mean?” Maggie asked, glancing over at Loravain who had taken a seat near one of the changing stalls.
Astrid held out a hand, palm up, and called to her magic. It shimmered across her skin then encased her fingers, but it did not stop there. As the ice thickened and grew, it took the shape of a lethal spike. The point glistened menacingly in the late afternoon sunlight. It could easily kill someone.
“Impressive,” Loravain said.
“There is much more to ice magic than you realize, mage,” Astrid said, then turned her attention back to Maggie. “What I am going to show you now will take years of practice to achieve, but it is good to know where you are heading.”
The old witch closed her eyes and lowered her head. She began to hum as wisps of freezing air fell from her body, swirling as mist around her feet. Her skin turned a light blue as ice began to take shape around her winter clothes. Maggie watched in awe as a thin breastplate appeared. It quickly thickened, complete with deadly icicles jutting from its center, creating an impenetrable barrier. What impressed Maggie the most was the image of a rearing riderless horse. The detail was immaculate and she thought she could see each individual hair shimmering in the light. Behind it was a coat of arms depicting a glistening snowflake, a lethal dagger, a frozen rose, and a hawk. Maggie only realized she was staring when Astrid turned around. When she was done, only her hands, face, and joints were free of ice. Everything else was protected.
“That is amazing,” Maggie said.
“It is much more than that,” Astrid countered. “This ice is harder than steel and any damage a foe can deal can be repaired.” She turned and faced Loravain. “Fire mage, do you mind assisting me?”
Loravain stood and walked forward. “It would be my honor. What do you need?”
“Attack me with your magic.”
“Excuse me?” Loravain asked. “Are you sure?”
“I have been doing this for nearly one hundred years. Trust me when I say that you will not be able to harm me. Strike at my chest.”
A nervous expression rippled across the fire mage's face but flames erupted from his palms.
“Whenever you are ready,” Astrid said.
Loravain formed the fire into a ball and slowly pushed it out into the air in front of him, allowing it to float above the ground. Maggie had never seen him do that before. His power was growing. Before he attacked, he stretched his arms, eliciting a few pops and cracks from his bones.
“You are sure that this will cause you no harm?” he asked again.
“I will be perfectly fine.”
The mage reached out and gripped the flaming ball. The fire melted back into his body, but Maggie watched small tendrils of flame rush back along his forearms and up to his shoulders. With a loud spark, it shot back out of his fingers with incredible force. Maggie covered her mouth, watching in horror as it sped towards Astrid, who stood as still as a tree as if she did not have a care in the world. Before the fire struck, a freezing blue shield appeared on Astrid’s arm in time to deflect the attack. As fire and ice collided, a wave of magic knocked Maggie off her feet. A resounding crack echoed through the walled center of Priama as the heat from the fireball fizzled out. Large chunks of Astrid’s shield lay on the ground and a few of her deadly ice shards had broken free of her breastplate, but the old witch still stood. The gouges in her blue armor slowly repaired themselves and the shield became whole once more. Loravain’s mouth hung open as he stared at his hands.
“It would seem that you have never encountered strong ice magic before, mage,” Astrid said with a chuckle.
“I was sure that blast would have killed you,” Loravain admitted, lowering his arms. “I have more to learn than I thought.”
“You would do well to seek out Yasamina. There is a thing or two she could teach you about fire magic.”
“Where can I find her?” Loravain asked, his head hanging a little lower.
“She lives on the opposite side of the datura fields on the east side of Priama,” Astrid said, then turned to face Maggie. “Now you.”
“Now me what?” Maggie asked, the color draining from her face. “Do you want Loravain to try and kill me?”
Astrid smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. “No, child, nothing like that. See if you can call your magic into shape around your body.”
Maggie glanced at her hands. They were already trembling from exhaustion from the hours of pressing herself and the cold was starting to penetrate her clothing. She took a few shaky steps over to the fire and warmed herself. Knowing Astrid would not be happy with a break, Maggie called out to her power again. Her skin tingled as the cold spread, sending a shiver through her legs. Brittle tendrils of ice started to weave around her fingers and she hoped it would coalesce into something useful. With trembling knees, her strength failed and she collapsed.
“Or perhaps we have done enough for today,” Astrid said. “It is getting late and you have already improved much. If you are able to, we can resume our lesson tomorrow.”
Loravain slipped an arm around Maggie’s waist and pulled her to her feet, holding her for support.
“If I am able to,” Maggie said.
“You friend here knows where to find me,” Astrid said with a bow as she backed away.
With the sun setting behind the clouds of an approaching storm, Maggie allowed Loravain to escort her back to her yurt. Her body ached and her mind was fuzzy. She desperately needed rest.
“That was a good lesson,” Loravain said. “Ice magic can be formidable. You must continue your lessons with Astrid. As queen, you will need every advantage you can get.”
She glanced up into the mage’s eyes. “How much protection do you think I’m going to need? I already have you, Sarah, Belle, and the rest of the guard.”
“You need to be able to depend on yourself more than others. We won’t always be there for you.”
Maggie spun on him. “What are you trying to say? Are you planning on leaving?”
“I have dedicated myself to you, Maggie. However, at times, pressing matters may take me away from here.”
A hollow pit formed in Maggie’s stomach. The thought of being without Loravain scared her. Even though they had only known each other for a short time, she could not picture her life without him.
“That will be a sad day,” she said as she climbed the stairs to her door.
“Sleep well, Maggie,” Loravain said as he turned to walk away. “You deserve it.”
“You too,” Maggie called out after him.
She watched him walk out of view before entering her yurt. As she closed the door, heat attacked her. It was much too warm. She shed her coat, boots, and gloves and sat on her bed. Without all that gear, the yurt was bearable. As she got comfortable, her stomach rumbled, begging to be fed.
